Boot topper

ABSTRACT

A tube comprising a foldable decorative tubular portion comprising an inward turned portion and an outward turned portion. The outward turned portion includes an ornamental design thereon and/or a decoration extending therefrom.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/168,228, filed Jun. 28, 2005, entitled , which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 60/583,372, filed Jun. 28, 2004,entitled .

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sock with an inward turned decorativetop that folds over the top of a boot to provide a decorative look.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the last several years, high fashion dress boots have becomequite popular. Unfortunately, high quality boots are very expensive andpeople are often limited to owning one pair. In turn, one pair of bootsonly gives the owner a single style, limiting the flexibility of theboots and the ability to wear them frequently with various fashionoutfits.

It would be desirable to have the ability to change the look or style ofa pair of fashion boots in a simple, cost effective way. In one attempt,a boot cover was used to cover the entire leg of the boot. Although thisdoes change the appearance of the boot, it also adds substantial cost(as the covers were typically made of leather) and may not be compatiblewith all types of dress boots. Others have attempted to providedecorative socks, using sock covers but these would not be useful fordesigner boots. Finally, others have attempted to combine socks withboot usage but only to prevent the sock from falling down. Specifically,a stay-up cuff is integrated into the top of the leg portion of the sockand includes an outwardly turned welt which covers the upper edge of ahiking boot to prevent the entry of dirt, snow, etc, into the boot.Although this may be a beneficial design, the sock does not provide anydecorative or stylish features to be used with high fashion dress boots.

Accordingly, an apparatus is desired having the aforementionedadvantages and solving and/or making improvements on the aforementioneddisadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention is to provide a tube comprisinga foldable decorative tubular portion comprising an inward turnedportion and an outward turned portion. The outward turned portionincludes an ornamental design thereon.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a tube comprisinga foldable decorative tubular portion comprising an inward turnedportion and an outward turned portion. A decoration extends from theoutward turned portion of the inward turned welt.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method ofdecorating a boot comprising providing a tube comprising a first sectionand a second section, with the second section having a decorationintegrally attached to an end thereof. The method also includes pullingthe boot over the first section of the tube, folding the second sectionover a top edge of the boot and exposing the decoration.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present inventionwill be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art uponstudying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sock of the present invention, with afoldable decorative tubular portion of the sock unfolded.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the sock of the present invention, with a topsection of the foldable decorative tubular portion folded over.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a boot.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a boot incorporating the sock of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a leg tube, with a top section of the foldabledecorative tubular portion folded over.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a cuff, with a top section of the foldabledecorative tubular portion folded over.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”,“left”, “rear”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivativesthereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, itis to be understood that the invention may assume various alternativeorientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to thecontrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices andprocesses illustrated in the attached drawings and described in thefollowing specification are simply exemplary embodiments of theinventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specificdimensions and other physical characteristics relating to theembodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting,unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The reference number 10 (FIG. 1) generally designates a clothing tubeembodying the present invention. In the illustrated example, theclothing tube 10 comprises a sock 10′ that can be made of a variety ofmaterials, including Nylon, Tactel Nylon, Micro Nylon, MicrodenierNylon, Micro Fiber, Spandex, Lycra, Lycra Spandex, Polyester, Cotton,Acetate, Rayon, Viscose, or Chenille. The sock 10′ includes a footportion 12 and a leg portion 14, with the foot portion 12 attached toone end of the leg portion 14. A foldable decorative tubular portion 16is integrally attached to the leg portion 14 of the sock 10′ at an endopposite to the foot portion 12. The foldable decorative tubular portion16 is at least partially made of a material that is partially elastic,including Nylon, Tactel Nylon, Micro Nylon, Microdenier Nylon, MicroFiber, Spandex, Lycra, Lycra Spandex, Polyester, Cotton, Acetate, Rayon,Viscose, or Chenniel. The foldable decorative tubular portion 16 canalso be at least partially made of the same material used in the footportion 12 and leg portion 14. Further, the foldable decorative tubularportion 16 can include an ornamental design 17 thereon. The ornamentaldesign 17 can comprise a design made on the foldable decorative tubularportion 16 that is viewable when a top section 34 of the foldabledecorative tubular portion 16 is turned outward (see FIG. 2) and/or atleast one decoration 20 attached to at least a top edge 18 of thefoldable decorative tubular portion 16. The at least one decoration 20can include a variety of decorations know to those skilled in the art,including fur, beads, lace, bangles, feathers, stones, rhinestones orany other decoration. The ornamental design 17 can also comprise animage printed on the foldable decorative tubular portion 16, have thematerial of the foldable decorative tubular portion 16 made into adesign or decorations connected to the foldable decorative tubularportion 16 (e.g., fur, beads, lace, bangles, feathers, stones,rhinestones or any other decoration).

In the illustrated example, the foldable decorative tubular portion 16is attached to leg portion 14 such that when the top section 34 of thefoldable decorative tubular portion 16 is folded outward (turned over orcuffed), the ornamental design 17 and/or the at least one decoration 20are outward facing, allowing others to view the ornamental design 17and/or the at least one decoration 20 (see FIG. 2).

The illustrated sock 10′ of the present invention can be used with atypical boot 22 (FIG. 3). Usually, the design of boot 22 is fixed andnot changeable. This can limit the usability of the boot 22 and limitits ability to match or be worn with other fashionable outfits.

However, the sock 10′ can be worn in combination with the boot 22 asillustrated in FIG. 4 to allow the boot 22 to be worn with otherfashionable outfits. In order to use the sock 10′ with the boot 22, thesock 10′ is positioned on a foot/leg of a person. Thereafter, the boot22 is pulled over the foot portion 12 and the leg portion 14 of the sock10′. The boot 22 may also be pulled over a lower section 32 of thefoldable decorative tubular portion 16. The top section 34 of thefoldable decorative tubular portion 16 is then folded over (turnedoutward or cuffed) over a top edge 24 of the boot 22.

In the illustrated example, the elastic nature of the materials used inthe foldable decorative tubular portion 16 allow the sock 10′ to fittightly over the top edge 24 of the boot 22, thereby holding thefoldable decorative tubular portion 16 in place, preventing the foldabledecorative tubular portion 16 from slipping off, and allowing thefoldable decorative tubular portion 16 to fit over various sizes ofboots 22. By folding over the foldable decorative tubular portion 16,the ornamental design 17 of the foldable decorative tubular portion 16and the at least one decoration 20 are exposed and visible. This givesboot 22 a different look, allowing a single boot design to take ondifferent looks and feels depending on the design and decoration of sock10′. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the at least onedecoration 20 includes beads. However, as stated previously, it iscontemplated that many other decorations could be used alone or incombination. Furthermore, the size, length and width of the at least onedecoration 20 as well as the size and length of the foldable decorativetubular portion 16 can be varied to further provide differentappearances (covering more or less of the boot 22). By owning severaldifferent styles of the sock 10′, one could have several different lookswith a single pair of fashion boots 22, which provides a simple, costeffective way to change looks.

The reference numeral 10 a(FIG. 5) generally designates anotherembodiment of the present invention, having a second embodiment of thetube. Since the tube 10 a is similar to the previously described tube10, similar parts appearing in FIGS. 1-4 and FIG. 5, respectively, arerepresented by the same, corresponding reference number, except for thesuffix “a” in the numerals of the latter. The tube of the secondembodiment of the present invention comprises the leg portion 14 a andthe foldable decorative tubular portion 16 a. The tube 10 a isessentially a sock 10′ without the foot portion 12 (similar to a legwarmer). The tube 10 a has the leg portion 14 a, with one end of the legportion 14 a being open ended (instead of having the foot portion 12 asin the sock 10′ described above). Furthermore, the opposite end of theleg portion 14 a is integrally connected to the foldable decorativetubular portion 16 a. The foldable decorative tubular portion 16 afunctions in the same manner as explained above, providing the sameornamental features when turned outward or cuffed. Accordingly, the tube10 a functions in the same manner as the sock 10′, but without a footportion 12 and potentially a shorter leg portion 14 a. The length of theleg portion 14 a can vary depending on the wants and needs of the user.For example, if warmth is desired, the leg portion 14 a couldessentially be the same length as the leg portion 14 of the sock 10′ ofthe first embodiment of the present invention. However, the leg portion14 a could also be very short, basically serving as an anchor for thefoldable decorative tubular portion 16 to anchor the tube 10 a to theleg of the user.

The reference numeral 10 b (FIG. 6) generally designates anotherembodiment of the present invention, having a third embodiment for thetube. Since the tube 10 b is similar to the previously described sock10′, similar parts appearing in FIGS. 1-4 and FIG. 6, respectively, arerepresented by the same, corresponding reference number, except for thesuffix “b” in the numerals of the latter. The tube 10 b is essentiallyjust the foldable decorative tubular portion 16 b , without the footportion 12 or the leg portion 16 of the sock 10′ . The tube 10 bincludes the foldable decorative tubular portion 16 b as described abovein the first embodiment of the present invention. When the top section34 b of the foldable decorative tubular portion 16 b of the tube 10 b isfolded over (turned outward or cuffed), the ornamental design 17 band/or the at least one decoration 20 b are exposed. The tube 10 b isdesigned to fit over the top edge 24 b of the boot 22 b and provide thesame decorative features as explained above. The tube 10 b is preferablyat least partially elastic such that the bottom section 32 of thefoldable decorative tubular portion 16 b can either fit snuggly to theleg of the user or when a portion of the tube 10 b is turned outward,the bottom section 32 and top section 34 of the tube 10 b fit tightlyaround the top edge 24 b of the boot 22 b.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made onthe aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of thepresent invention. For example, it is contemplated that the tube 10could be placed over an arm or a leg or a person. Furthermore, it is tobe understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by thefollowing claims unless these claims by their language expressly stateotherwise.

1. A method of decorating a boot comprising: providing a tube comprisinga first section and a second section, the second section having adecoration integrally attached to an end thereof; pulling the boot overthe first section of the tube; folding the second section over a topedge of the boot; and exposing the decoration.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein: the tube further includes a leg portion connected to the firstsection.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein: the tube further includes afoot portion connected to the leg portion.
 4. A method of accessorizingan article of footwear, the method comprising: providing an article offootwear, the article of footwear having an upper and an interiorcavity, the upper having a foot receiving opening, the foot receivingopening defining an opening edge of the upper and being in communicationwith the interior cavity and with an environment external to the articleof footwear; providing a footwear accessory device, the footwearaccessory device having a support portion and a decorative portion;attaching the footwear accessory device to the leg of a person bypositioning the support portion of the footwear accessory device inmanner such that the support portion encircles a first portion of theleg of the person and such that the support portion exerts a radiallycompressive force to the leg of the person; attaching the article offootwear to the leg of the person by extending the leg of the personthrough the foot receiving opening of the article of footwear in amanner such that the first portion of the leg of the person ispositioned within the interior cavity of the article of footwear andsuch that a second portion of the leg of the person is positioned in theenvironment external to the article of footwear; and positioning thefootwear accessory device relative to the article of footwear in amanner such that at least a portion of the support portion of thefootwear accessory device is positioned radially between the firstportion of the leg of the person and the upper of the article offootwear and such that the decorative portion of the footwear accessorydevice at least partially conceals the opening edge of the upper of thearticle of footwear.
 5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein thestep of positioning the footwear accessory device relative to thearticle of footwear occurs in a manner such that a portion of the upperof the article of footwear adjacent the opening edge of the upper ispositioned between a portion of the decorative portion of the footwearaccessory device and the first portion of the leg of the person.
 6. Amethod in accordance with claim 4, wherein the step of providing thefootwear accessory device occurs in a manner such that the supportportion of the footwear accessory device comprises a length of tubularmaterial, the material being flexible and resiliently stretchable, thelength of tubular material having opposite open end portions, thedecorative portion of the footwear accessory device being secured to oneof the end portions of the length of tubular material, the step ofattaching the footwear accessory device to the leg of the person furthercomprising positioning the leg of the person in a manner such that theleg of the person extends through the open end portions of the length oftubular material, the radially compressive force exerted on the leg ofthe person resulting from the material being resiliently stretched whenthe leg of the person extends through the open end portions of thelength of tubular material.
 7. A method in accordance with claim 6,wherein the step of providing the footwear accessory device occurs in amanner such that the decorative portion of the footwear accessory deviceforms a loop, and wherein the step of attaching the footwear accessorydevice to the leg of the person comprises positioning the decorativeportion of the footwear accessory device relative to the leg of theperson in a manner such that the loop of the decorative portion of thefootwear accessory device encircles the leg of the person.
 8. A methodin accordance with claim 4, wherein a portion of the upper of thearticle of footwear adjacent the opening edge of the upper forms a loopand a portion of the decorative portion of the footwear accessory deviceforms a loop, and wherein the step of positioning the footwear accessorydevice relative to the article of footwear occurs in a manner such thatthe portion of the upper of the article of footwear adjacent the openingedge of the upper is positioned radially between the portion of thedecorative portion of the footwear accessory device and the firstportion of the leg of the person and such that the decorative portion ofthe footwear accessory device completely conceals the opening edge ofthe upper of the article of footwear.
 9. A method in accordance withclaim 4, wherein the step of providing the footwear accessory deviceoccurs in a manner such that the decorative portion of the footwearaccessory device forms a loop, and wherein the step of attaching thefootwear accessory device to the leg of the person comprises passing thefirst portion of the leg of the person through the closed loop of thedecorative portion of the footwear accessory device.
 10. A method ofaccessorizing an article of footwear, the method comprising: providingan article of footwear, the article of footwear having an upper and aninterior cavity, the upper having a foot receiving opening, the footreceiving opening defining an opening edge of the upper and being incommunication with the interior cavity and with an environment externalto the article of footwear; providing a footwear accessory device, thefootwear accessory device having a support portion and a decorativeportion; attaching the footwear accessory device to a leg of a person bypositioning the support portion of the footwear accessory device inmanner such that the support portion encircles a first portion of theleg of the person and such that the support portion exerts a radiallycompressive force to the leg of the person; attaching the article offootwear to the leg of the person by extending the leg of the personthrough the foot receiving opening of the article of footwear in amanner such that the first portion of the leg of the person ispositioned within the interior cavity of the article of footwear andsuch that a second portion of the leg of the person is positioned in theenvironment external to the article of footwear; and positioning thefootwear accessory device relative to the article of footwear in amanner such that at least a portion of the support portion of thefootwear accessory device is positioned radially between the firstportion of the leg of the person and the upper of the article offootwear and such that a portion of the upper of the article of footwearadjacent the opening edge of the upper is positioned between a portionof the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device and the firstportion of the leg of the person.
 11. A method in accordance with claim10, wherein the step of providing the footwear accessory device occursin a manner such that the support portion of the footwear accessorydevice comprises a length of tubular material, the material beingflexible and resiliently stretchable, the length of tubular materialhaving opposite open end portions, the decorative portion of thefootwear accessory device being secured to one of the end portions ofthe length of tubular material, the step of attaching the footwearaccessory device to the leg of the person further comprising positioningthe leg of the person in a manner such that the leg of the personextends through the open end portions of the length of tubular material,the radially compressive force exerted on the leg of the personresulting from the material being resiliently stretched when the leg ofthe person extends through the open end portions of the length oftubular material.
 12. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein theportion of the upper of the article of footwear adjacent the openingedge of the upper forms a loop and the portion of the decorative portionof the footwear accessory device forms a loop, and wherein the step ofpositioning the footwear accessory device relative to the article offootwear occurs in a manner such that the portion of the upper of thearticle of footwear adjacent the opening edge of the upper is positionedradially between the portion of the decorative portion of the footwearaccessory device and the first portion of the leg of the person.
 13. Amethod in accordance with claim 10, wherein the step of positioning thefootwear accessory device relative to the article of footwear occurs ina manner such that the portion of the upper of the article of footwearadjacent the opening edge of the upper is positioned between the portionof the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device and thesupport portion of the footwear accessory device.
 14. A method inaccordance with claim 10, wherein the step of providing the footwearaccessory device occurs in a manner such that the decorative portion ofthe footwear accessory device forms a loop, and wherein the step ofattaching the footwear accessory device to the leg of the personcomprises passing the first portion of the leg of the person through theclosed loop of the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device.15. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the step of attachingthe footwear accessory device to the leg of the person comprisespositioning the decorative portion of the footwear accessory devicerelative to the leg of the person in a manner such that the decorativeportion of the footwear accessory device encircles the leg of theperson.
 16. An accessory for footwear comprising: a support portion, thesupport portion comprising a loop, the loop being circumferentiallyresiliently stretchable and having axially opposite first and secondopenings, the loop being adapted and configured in a manner such thatthe loop can stretchably encircle a leg of a person in a mannerreleasably securing the support portion to the leg of the person; and adecorative portion, the decorative portion being connected to the loopin a manner such that the decorative portion encircles the loop adjacentthe first opening and such that the decorative portion extends radiallyoutward from the loop of the support portion.
 17. An accessory forfootwear in accordance with claim 16, wherein the decorative portionextends radially outward from the loop of the support portion in allradial directions.
 18. An accessory for footwear in accordance withclaim 16, wherein the decorative portion diverges axially as thedecorative portion extends radially outward from the loop of the supportportion.
 19. An accessory for footwear in accordance with claim 16,wherein the decorative portion is sewn to the support portion.
 20. Anaccessory for footwear in accordance with claim 16, wherein the loop ofthe support portion has an average undeflected diameter and the firstand second openings of the loop are spaced from each other by a distancethat is between two and four times the average undeflected diameter. 21.An accessory for footwear in accordance with claim 16, wherein thedecorative portion extends axially away from the second opening of theloop as it extends radially outward from the loop of the supportportion.
 22. An accessory for footwear in accordance with claim 16,wherein the decorative portion extends radially outward from the loop ofthe support portion and thereafter extends axially toward the secondopening of the loop in a manner such that a first portion of thedecorative portion overlaps a first portion of the loop of the supportportion, the first portion of the decorative portion being radiallyspaced from the first portion of the loop in a manner defining a channelthat encircles the loop and that is positioned between the first portionof the loop and the first portion of the decorative portion.
 23. Anaccessory for footwear in accordance with claim 22, wherein thedecorative portion extends axially away from the second opening of theloop as it extends radially outward from the loop of the supportportion.